In the Celtic lands, mid August was harvest time. The festival of Lughnasa was the
harvest celebration in honor of the God of the harvest Lugh who was responsible for the
bounties of the harvest. There was singing and drinking and dancing (hence the title of
Brian Friels famous play) and story telling in gratitude for the harvest and the
promise of food to eat during the winter months. In Christian times it became the festival
of Mary at Harvest Time because Mary reflected the life giving, life nurturing love of
God. So we thank God on this festival day for all our food and drink and his nurturing
love in all its forms.

Once upon a time
the Lord God went out on patrol of heaven just to make sure that it was still a city that
worked. Everything was fine, the hedges trimmed, the grass cut, the fountains clean, the
gold and silver and ivory polished, the mall neat (Of course they have a mall in heaven.
Where else would they put the teenagers!). He stopped by to listen to the angel choirs
sing and they were in great form. Then on one of the side streets he encountered people
who had no business being in heaven, at all, at all. Some of them should have been serving
a long sentence in purgatory, others would not get out until the day before the Last
Judgement, still others would make it into heaven only on very special appeal. So he went
out to complain to St. Peter. Youve let me down again, he said and yourself with the
keys of the kingdom of heaven. I have not said St. Peter. Well, how did they get in? I
didnt let them in. Well, who did? You wont like it. I have a right to know how
they got in. Well, I turned them down and didnt they go around to the back door and
didnt your mother let them in!

(Theologically this story of course is
nonsense. But as a story it reflects Marys role as reflecting the maternal love of
God).